Submarine toy



R. E... DE WAELE.

SUBMARINE TOY.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.8,1918.

r 1,328,867. Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

R 2 SHEETSSHEET l- R. E. DE WAELE.

SUBYMARINE TOY.

APPLICATION FILED Aus.8. 1918.

1 ,328,867. Patented Jan. 27, 192 0.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

RENE EDOUARD DE WAELE, or. PARIS,- FRANCE.

SUBMARINE TOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan; 27, 1920.

Application filed August 8, 1918. Serial No. 248,954.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RENE: EDOUARD on WAELE, a subject of the King of the Belgians, resident of Paris, France, ost-ofiice address 67 Rue Caulaincourt, aris, France, have invented a new and useful Submarine Toy, which submarine toy is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to submersible toys; and it resides in the provision ofan improved toy of the character indicated in which the generation of gas is brought about by the action of the water on a chemical substance, so that when the toy has sunk, its specific weight is modified by the formationof the gas, and it is caused to ascend until it floats on the surface of the water.

The present invention comprises a water ballast chamber normally empty of water, rendering possible navigation on the surface under the action of a suitably driven propeller, the ballast chamber being adapted to communicate at its base with the water and being provided at its top with a valve for controlling an opening communieating with "the atmosphere; The water which gradually fills the 7 water ballast chamber, as the toy sinks, comes in contact with and raises a second valve which normally closes the upper part of a calcium carbid cartridge, the raising offithis'second valve closing the first valve and-- enabling water to come intocontact with thecarbid. The acetylene gas thereby generated forces the water contained in the water ballast chamber to escape, owing to which the boat ,the submarine brought together.

The submarine-may be decorated outside in any suitable manner, and may have any shape and tormsuitable for the toy,

The propulsion of the submarine is effected by any desired mechanism, for instance by a spring motor a which can be wound by a key 6, and which is connected through suitable gearing to drive the shaft 0 of ,the propeller (Z. This feature, how.- ever, forms no part of the invention, which resides in the means whereby the submerging of the toy and its subsequent rise to the surface of the water are automatically accomplished. I

At some suitable part of theboat, there is provided within the hull a ballast tank-or chamber 6 which may be put in communication with the water in the basin, tub or other receptacle wherein the toy is being used,. by way of a rearwardly-extend ng pipe or conduit f having a removable terminal plug f, said pipe opening through the bottom of the hull, as shown. Thistank is normally empty of water, however, the weight of the boat being-such that the water line under ordinary conditions will occupy substantially the relative position indicated by the dotted line XY in Fig. 1, at which time the boat can travel on the surface.

In the upper portion of the tank, a, frame 9 is arranged, which normallysupports a valve it provided with upstanding pins or projections 71. This valve ,h is located within an open-topped chamber oryneck 7' and directly beneath a disk at which isfastened to the lower end of the .stem m of an.. air valve l, carried by a cover member 75,- the latter being utilized to close the top of chamber 3'. Said chamber y is likewise mounted upon the frame ,9 which also serves to support a cartridge 0 containing calcium carbid or some other suitable.

chemical-substance or substances which, on being brought into contact with Water, will generate a gas. Valve It forms a cover r closure for this cartridge, and is of .a buoy-' strike against the disk member moi the airlvalve Z. Disk n normally rests inletscred position upon suitable depending supports carried by cover k, and "in such position causes valve Zto openthe airvent. :The

upward movement ,of disk It, produced as just-described, en a ls a sim lar m v men of the air valve which results in the closing of the vent.

In use, the boat is placed in the water with its various component parts occupying the position represented in Fig. 1; but with the plug f removed if submergence is desired. During the movement of the boat, water enters and graduallyfillsthe ballast tank through pipe f, the weight of the boat being increased by the incoming water until complete submergence takes place, this occurring at about the time when the level of the water reaches the cartridge top or valve h. As the water level continues to rise, the valve h will be lifted up and, in its turn,

v raises the valve Z, thereby admitting Water to the contents of the cartridge and at the same time closing the air vent. Acetylene gas is thereby generated, and, as it fills the space between the water and the top of the tank, forces out from the tank the, water through the pipe f, whereupon the generating action ceases. This has the obvious result of lightening the weight of the boat,

which will rise to the surface and continue its progress, which was automatically terminated by the submergence of the boat so as to avoid possible injury to the bottom of the boat caused by rubbing against the more or less rough bottom of the tub.

To effect the automatic stoppage of the boat when sinking, means is provided for engagement with the propeller in a manner to arrest its rotation. In the construction illustrated, this stopping device is formed by the rudder p, which is so mounted as to be capable of a vertical sliding movement, and is so proportioned that in its normal pos1t1on 1t projects slightly below the'keel of the boat, so that it will touch bottom ahead of thekeel. When this takes place, the rudder will be forced upward into engagement with the blades of the propeller and, in consequence, will prevent it from turning. The rudder will resume its usual position, of course, during the ascent of the boat.

The above-described operation continue indefinitely, succeeding one another in the order indicated, until the supply of chemical is completely exhausted. I

I claim as my invention i 1. In a toy submarine boat, the combinationof a propeller, and driving mechanism therefor; means for automatically effecting submergence of the boat; and means for automatically terminating the movement of the propeller during submergence.

2. In a toy submarine boat .the combination of a propeller, and driving mechanism therefor; means for. automatically effecting submergence of the boat; and means for antomaticallv locking the propeller against rotation during submergence. I V

3. Ina toy submarine boat, the combinat1on of a propeller, and driving mechanism.

therefor; means for automatically effecting submergence of the boat; and a member movable automatically into engagement with the propeller during submergence, to lock it against operation.

4. In a toy submarine boat, the combination of a propeller, and driving mechanism. therefor; means for automatically effecting .submergence of the boat and its subsequent ing ascent of the boat to unlock said propeller.

6. In a toy submarine boat,'the combination of a propellerpand driving mechanism therefor; means for automatically effecting submergence of the'boat and its subsequent return to the surface; and a member engageable automatically with the propeller blades during submergence to arrest the movement of the propeller, but releasable automatically therefrom when the vboat ascends.

7. In a submersible toy, the combination.

of a ballast chamber having a water inlet; and a container fora gas-generating substance suspended in the upper portion of the ballast chamber and having anorma'llyclosed, removable cover which is lifted off by the water in the ballast chamber when the level thereof rises to the proper height, thereby to permit access of the water to said gasgenerating substance. g V

8. In a submersible toy, the combination of a ballast chamber having a water inlet; a container for a gas-generating substance suspended in the upper portion of the ballast chamber and having a normally-closed, removable cover which is lifted off by the water in the ballast chamber when the level thereof rises to the proper height, thereby to permit access of the water to said gasgenerating substance; and an air-escape valve on said ballast chamber adapted to close automatically substantiallyat the commencement of the gas-generating operation.

9. In a submersible toy, the combination of a ballast chamber having a" water inlet; a container for a gas-generating substance suspended in the upper portion of the ballast chamber and having a normally-closed, removable cover which is lifted off by'the water in the ballast chamber when the level thereof rises to the proper'height, thereby to permit access of the water to said gas-generating substance and a normally-open air-escape valve on said ballast chamber adapted to be moved into closed position by said cover when the latter is lifted off by the water.

10. In a submersible toy, the combination of a ballast chamber having a water inlet; a container for a gas-generating substance suspended in the upper portion of the ballast chamber and having a normally-closed, removable cover which is lifted off by the water in the ballast chamber when the level thereof rises to the proper height, thereby to permit access of the water to said gasgenerating substance; and a normally-open air escape valve on said ballast chamber disposed directly above said cover, the latter being provided with upstanding projections adapted to engage said valve and force it into closed position when the cover is raised by the water. 7

11. In a toy submarine boat, the combination of propelling mechanism; a ballast chamber having an openin through which water can enter to effect submergence of the boat; a container in said chamber for a chemical substance which will generate a gas on being brought into contact with the water, to drive out the water from said chamber and thereby cause the ascent of the boat; and means for automatically stopping the propelling mechanism during the sinking of the boat. I

1 In a toy submarine boat, the combination of propelling mechanism; a ballast chamber having an openin through which water can enter to effect submergenoe of the boat; a container in said chamber for a chemical substance which will generate a gas on being brought into contact with the water, to drive out the water from said chamber and thereby cause the ascent of the boat; and means for automatically arresting the propelling mechanism during the sinking of the boat, and for thereafter releasing it when the boat rises.

13. In a toy submarine boat, the combina tion of a propeller, and driving mechanism therefor; means for automatically effecting submergence and subsequent ascent of the boat; and a vertically-movable rudder located directly beneath the propeller and adapted to be forced upward on striking the bottom when the boat sinks, so as to engage the propeller blades and thereby arrest the rotation of the propeller.

14:. In a toy submarine boat, the'combination of propelling mechanism; means for automatically effecting submergence and subsequent ascent of the boat; and a vertically-movable rudder adapted to be forced upward on striking the bottom when the boat sinks and acting to automatically stop the propelling mechanism during such upward movement.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DE WAELE RENE EDOUARD.

Witnesses:

JosnPH GEMENIL, GEORGES LOUAEL. 

